Heal

GIFTS OF HEALING (DIVINE HEALING) – supernatural outpourings of God’s power which results in the healing of sickness and disease without the use of medical means. This can involve "sickness" of the body, soul and/or spirit.

God is interested in healing our total person. "…bring glad tidings to the poor" (materially and in spirit) …"proclaim liberty to captives" (those who are held in bondage to illness and sin by the evil one) …"recovery of sight to the blind" (physically and spiritually blind)… "let the oppressed go free" (setting the down-trodden free – inner healing and healing of memories –also "bind up the hearts that are broken" Isaiah 61:1) …"proclaiming a year acceptable to the Lord" (the healing of relationships – restoring property, freeing slaves, forgiving unpaid debts).

Jesus used many different methods of healing, such as laying on of hands, casting out demons, spitting and making mud then applying it, and proclaiming healing from a distance. Jesus is the healer. Even healings that come to us through the intercession of Mary and the saints are through their intercession with Jesus the Healer.

Healing is given as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit to build up, encourage, strengthen, make new or whole an individual or a group for the glory of God and the blessing of His people – to sanctify or to make holy the recipient, to glorify God, to build faith, to be a sign of the power and presence of God, to meet the need, to change the circumstances, to build up the Church.

Healing may be physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual or relational. When we pray for healing, some type of healing comes, though it may not be specifically what we asked for. Healing is often accompanied with the gift of tears – a wonderful gift described by one of the saints as the "washing of the soul". Joy also often accompanies healing and can be expressed through "holy laughter" or tears.